A Second Luminous Blue Variable in the Quintuplet Cluster

Abstract

H and K band moderate resolution and 4 $\mu$m high resolution spectra have been obtained for FMM#362, a bright star in the Quintuplet Cluster near the Galactic Center. The spectral features in these bands closely match those of the Pistol Star, a luminous blue variable and one of the most luminous stars known. The new spectra and previously-obtained photometry imply a very high luminosity for FMM#362, L $\ge 10^6$ \Lsun, and a temperature of 10,000 - 13,000 K. Based on its luminosity, temperature, photometric variability, and similarities to the Pistol Star, we conclude that FMM#362 is a luminous blue variable.

Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 4 PostScript figures, 2 tables

References in corpus (3)

• Massive Stars in the Quintuplet Cluster
• The First Stellar Abundance Measurements in the Galactic Center: the M Supergiant IRS 7
• High Resolution Infrared Imaging and Spectroscopy of the Pistol Nebula: Evidence for Ejection

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